Saturday, December 27, 2014

I can think of a few things my mother did right. One was to nag me into taking an interest in things besides cartoons. This has kept me curious, broadened my horizons, and has even helped my art! I meet so many cartoonists who haven't grown aesthetically since age 14. They are sad and boring.

The retouching book is, of course, way out of date, but has good graphics. Anyway, it was a buck.

It's not easy moving from a two bedroom apartment to a one bedroom house. All the stuff you hid from yourself is inescapable. Clear up one layer of clutter, and there are always three or four more waiting.

Sunday, December 21, 2014

I wrote the following as part of one of my lessons. I believe I put it as well as I can, and my student approved of my sharing it:

"...you seem straightforward and unselfish, but many artists aren’t. We
get miserly with our compliments to others. It’s as if to offer one
would wrench some vital organ from our own bodies, our own pride, even
help advance another to the success we want for ourselves. It’s easier
said than done, but realize how good you are (these are the equal to, or
better than stuff I’ve seen in shows), and realize other artists are
also just plain humans with as many problems as we have. It’s not
imperative you have their approval, and pretty hopeless to try to
extract it from them."

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Now for one of my favorites. Born in what is now the Czech Republic in 1871, Kupka began his education and career in Vienna, starting out with paintings ably rendered in a traditional style.

In 1906, Kupka set to work as an illustrator for popular and political periodicals in Paris. His paintings became more caricatural, witty, and stylized.

Influenced by the Futurist movement gaining ground in painting, and experimenting in the relationships between art, motion and music, Kupka's stylization progressed...

...and, by 1910 blossomed into the pure abstraction he worked in until his death in 1957.

"Music". Image from en.wahooart.com

Enjoy his art. It's been a big inspiration to me.
Milt

The images posted here have been saved over the internet at such varying times, I have forgotten most of their sources. If you're one of them, notify me. I will either give credit, or remove it if you wish.-MK

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

The team of Ines Talamo & Crivel, vocalists I linked to in a previous post, but hadn't heard of until a few days ago, made quite a quantity of recordings of songs composed by Harry Warren (lyrics) & Al Dubin (music) for Warner Bros. musicals. With new lyrics for the Italian translations, the evocative classical singing style make these 78s interesting and exciting.

Image from alfredeaker.wordpress.com

"Shanghai Lil", originally sung and danced by James Cagney and Ruby Keeler (Mrs. Al Jolson) in FOOTLIGHT PARADE (1933).

Image from moviespictures.org

"About a Quarter to Nine" and "Latin from Manhattan", both featured by Al Jolson in GO INTO YOUR DANCE (1935).

Friday, December 12, 2014

Dudley Hardy (1867-1922) was a pioneer of the British poster
at the turn of the twentieth century, a time when the art was emerging as the
prime force in an advertising revolution.

Hardy did not only poster designs, but paintings, and was
esteemed as a ‘black-and-white’ artist, when ink drawing for reproduction was often
seen as an ability separate from, but on an equal footing with painting.

In Hardy’s time, expertise and
imagination were professional pluses, rather than treated with disdain in the face of
computer prowess or the ability to copy ‘on-model’, Simpsons-style. As one may deduce from his portrait with the giant canvas, it was often very physical work.

His art is inherently attractive, straightforward and virile. He's a testament to what the artist is capable of once he's got the chance.